[Ranma][FanFic] Meeting Later - Chapter 3

[Trent O'Donoghue]

Meeting Later - Chapter 3

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the
wonderful Rumiko Takahashi and her licensees (Viz Communications in
North America). This work is strictly for the non-profit enjoyment of
fans. No copyright infringement is intended.

Meeting Later is originally a story by Tom Wrensch, personally
one of my favourite authors. Tom has given me the honour of continuing
this series but the idea and first chapter are all his work. To view
more of his work, which I personally recommend, his web site is
http://www.geocities.com/twrensch

Akane's stomach growled as she finished cleaning the bathroom.
She had been staying with Aunty and Ranma for a week as of tonight,
and things had begun to settle to the point that she was almost set on
her daily routines, well on school days anyway. Wake up, morning run
and do some practice kata and training, bath, fight with Ranma over
breakfast, school, homework, dinner, sparring, bath, bed. A single
visit to Ukyo at her restaurant and the three surprise visits by
Shampoo were the only times she heard from Ranma's fiancees, not a bad
thing since both were quite hostile when Ranma or his Mother weren't
watching. She had begun making friends at school, although sorting
those who wanted to be friends to get close to Ranma was thinning
those ranks quickly.

Since today was Sunday, Ranma had gone to give massages down at
the clinic with Doctor Tofu, but he had said he would be back in the
afternoon to begin tournament training, whatever that was. Although
Doctor Tofu didn't say no to her learning some of the massaging
techniques and helping on Sundays, Nodoka eventually argued
convincingly that she still needed some help with her cooking and
would prefer teaching her on Sundays rather than Akane working. Akane
knew Nodoka was meaning this as a form of bridal training, but was
unwilling to oppose the woman who had been a good friend while she
grew up without her own mother, and who now had let her stay in her
home. Besides her cooking did need improving, although Aunty was harsh
making her toss away all that food she had made this morning because
it wasn't 'Up to standard for her table'.

Entering the main room she began to straighten everything, idly
listening to the TV playing in the background. Her stomach cried out
again and she glanced at the clock. Nearly lunch time. Her breakfast
battles with Ranma had continued, and he had yet to figure it out, the
idiot. He looked so down after he lost again this morning. He had
secretly starved himself since breakfast the day before in the belief
his hunger could make him slightly quicker. He had been using
chopsticks in both hands since Friday breakfast. It was actually a
good thing for her confidence because he was still better at sparring.

Akane giggled at another memory of Ranma from during the week. He
had still been full at midday from his large breakfasts, and couldn't
finish his lunch, while she normally attacked her lunch full force
after only eating half her breakfast. Ranma had seen this as yet
another challenge and would dig back into his to the point of making
himself sick. Though she was a bit worried at the thought of gaining a
few pounds through all the snacking she'd been doing.

Today was the end of his oath, and after he declared he would
beat her before the end of the month, two weeks away, she had taken
pity on him. Taking him off to the bathroom so that Aunty wouldn't
see, Kami knows what she'd think, she showed him the basis of Martial
Arts Cuisine. She opened her mouth as wide as it would go and stuck
her whole clenched fist in. This was, thankfully, as far as she'd
gotten in proper La Belle France teachings. She had nearly choked on
her own fist, as she laughed at Ranma's reaction. He watched
fascinated, then started nodding his head and humming thoughtfully,
but the look in those blue eyes said he had no idea what to do about
this.

Another deep rumble from her stomach was echoed by the TV.
Turning she saw a commercial for a Ramen shop. Some super attractive
ultra slim model in a form hugging leather fighting outfit attacking a
huge bowl of noodles with her chopsticks and, most likely using trick
photography, flicking globs of the Ramen noodles to hungry sumo
wrestlers before digging in for herself, with some lame caption about
'Shishimi Takeout, fighting the biggest hungers Japan wide' coming up
under her smiling face.

Some idle yet vicious thoughts about 'anorexic models' with
'plastic figures' playing at being 'martial artists' and 'eating
anything they wanted' passed through her head before she heard a
rhythmical tapping at the door. Getting up and straightening her
clothes and apron as she walked towards the door, she idly thought
about 'anorexic models' with 'plastic figures' playing at being
'martial artists' and 'eating anything they wanted' showing up and
beating her up for such thoughts.

Opening the door with a hello, she looked up into the face of
that same 'anorexic model' with 'plastic figure' playing at being a
'martial artist' and 'eating anything she wanted' from the TV
commercial. Her long golden hair was arranged in twin plaits down her
back. A short, tight fitting, red dress was squeezed onto her
over-endowed figure, and her long bare legs ended in matching sandals
of intricate straps. A gold and silver brooch hung into her cleavage
and her grey eyes bored into Akane from her fine, high cheek boned
face.

Sakura Shishimi looked down appraisingly on the short girl before
her. A slight smile crossed her lips as she realised it was merely a
maid and not yet another rival for her love. In her most melodious
voice she spoke down at Akane. "I'm here to speak with my fiance,
Ranma Saotome?"

Akane blinked twice, in the face of yet another of Ranma's
fiancees. Before she could answer Nodoka's voice came from behind her.

"Oh I'm sorry, my son is currently running an errand for me,
anything I can help you with Ms Shishimi."

Sakura's eyes lit up. Passing a magazine and a cup of ramen that
had appeared in her hands to Akane she stepped past, whispering, "Take
a break". Akane looked briefly at the fashion magazine cover to see a
picture of Sakura, and a caption saying 'exclusive interview inside'.

"Mother in law, so good to see you. I was just hoping to find my
fiancee, as I managed to get this whole afternoon free from my busy
modelling career, and was hoping to share some time with him."

Nodoka's voice sounded to Akane as far too saccharine
"Unfortunately Ranma isn't going to be back until at least very late
tonight. I am so sorry but your timing couldn't be worse. You see
there is no way I could recall him either."

Despite the sweetness in both their voices Akane could see the
coldness in each other's eyes.

Sakura finally broke her gaze with her future mother in law and
idly fanned herself some sheets of paper. "Then perhaps you could pass
these along?"

"Of course, what are they?" Taking the papers, Nodoka's eyes
never left Sakura's.

"Oh, just the pre-approved paperwork for Ranma and your husband
to go straight past the preliminary fights to the final televised
events at the tournament. The executives decided some of those who did
well last year should be allowed straight in."

"Oh dear, my husband isn't in town for the next few weeks, he's
going to miss the tournament."

"Oh in that case..." Sakura's hand went out to grab one of the
two sheets, but Nodoka moved them to idly tap them against her chin.

Nodoka's eyes glanced at Akane's with an unsaid question. Akane
nodded twice quickly.

"There is another Anything Goes student in the area, perhaps
Genma's slot could be passed down?"

"Oh, I don't know, the producers may not approve of just anyone
going through."

"If you're worried about their fighting ability, I can happily
say Ranma himself acknowledge during their first sparring session that
he had very nearly lost. You remember don't you, Akane?"

The surprise showed on Sakura's face before she swung her head
back towards Akane.

Akane stared into the narrow glare of Sakura's eyes, before
carefully choosing her words as Aunties lead had shown. "Oh yes, Ranma
said that it was as closest he had come to a defeat in a very long
time, and that he admired the Tendo school's moves." She did her best
to maintain a vague smile on her face under the glare.

"Tendo School?"

"Oh yes" Nodoka's voice was still very saccharine "The heir to
the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial Arts is staying with us for
the time being."

"Oh dear, if he's not local to Juban he won't be allowed to
compete."

"Ah, but while we have the two heirs training together, they are
staying here and attending school together and will be for the
foreseeable future."

Sakura finally decided that it wasn't worth the effort of
arguing. Faking a conspiritory smile, she spoke with a hushed voice.
"I'm sure we can work something. I'll send one of the producers around
to affirm the paperwork, to let him take your husbands place."

"Excellent, Speaking for both halves of the Anything Goes Martial
Arts School, I thank you."

Sakura's voice took on a slightly higher pitch. "Oh no need
Mother, I mean we're almost family. Give Ranma my love, Bye Byyye".
Turning quickly she moved back through the still open door. A couple
of men in dark suits waited by the gate for her. A black stretch limo
was parked behind them.

"My son will marry that overindulged little brat over my dead
body."

Akane very nearly choked on the mouthful of ramen she'd snuck. It
was as close to out right swearing she had ever heard Aunty come.

"I thought Ranma was over at the clinic today."

"Oh I'm sure he is, but Sakura knows that's where he would be
today. Which means the people at the clinic saw her coming, and hid
him."

"What? How bad is she?"

"Oh, the last time she found him at the clinic, she cornered him
in a examination room, and used her family's take out martial arts in
an attempt to strip and bed him. Her technique relies heavily on
chopsticks as a weapon and Ranma had yet to come up with an effective
counter without attacking her out right. He eventually got away but
his clothes when he got home, my, at first I thought he had gotten a
poker dot version of his favourite outfit. Then I realised the dots
were flesh coloured. The bruises he had, everywhere tiny bruises. And
Doctor Tofu said the examination room look like someone had let off a
black and red confetti bomb."

Akane shut the door with her foot as she took another mouthful of
ramen. Gulping it down, she followed Nodoka to the kitchen. "Ranma had
better start praying this fourth fiancee is more his type because his
choices seem pretty slim."

As Akane walked past to put the ramen cup in the bin, she missed
the smile Nodoka gave her.

*******

Nodoka pulled out a recipe book from a shelf above the fridge. "I
was thinking we might try baking this afternoon, how about we try
cookies?"

"Sure." Akane's voice was less than enthusiastic.

"You don't like cookies?"

"No, I love cookies. It's just the last time I cooked some, they
hurt a couple boys."

"Badly?"

"No, they were all back the next day, but they were all pretty
upset."

Nodoka's eyes narrowed. "How many boys?"

Akane answered without looking up from her shoes. "Twenty Two."

Nodoka gripped the bench and stifled a giggle "I'm sure it was as
much bad ingredients as anything else".

Akane's voice was almost a whisper "I only baked fifteen cookies,
and there were three left over."

The burst of laughter from the hall covered the giggle that
escaped from Nodoka's lips. The two women turned to see Ranma rolling
on the ground, howling with laughter.

Akane was not happy at Ranma's reaction and promptly stomped out
of the kitchen. His laughter was cut short by her taking surprisingly
little steps while leaving over his body.

Regaining control of her own mouth Nodoka put as much reproach
into her voice as possible as she spoke to the still giggling pile in
the hall. "It isn't really nice to laugh at a girl like that Ranma,
you should go and apologise."

Ranma looked up at his mother and could see the twinkle of mirth
still in her eyes. "Fine, I'll apologise but don't give me that pout,
you were busting a gut trying not to laugh."

"That's not the point. I assume you came home to make sure that
Sakura had moved on?"

"Not that hard to guess, Mom".

"She sends her love, but she also dropped off the paperwork for
her tournament. I assume you still plan on entering?"

With Ranma's nod she continued "She has decided that that since
you and your father did so well last year, that the two of you don't
need to go through the preliminaries. Since your father is staying
with Akane's father, Akane and I convinced her to give the spot to
Akane... You don't like this?"

"Oh no, it's just going though the preliminaries would let her
have a go in that stupid ring and get a grip on the rules, don't
matter that much, I can teach her."

"Go speak with Akane then while I ready some lunch."

Ranma didn't loose his grin while getting up and dusting himself
off. He found Akane coming down the stairs in her gi. "Hey, look...
sorry, I wasn't laughing at you as ...I didn't mean it as.... look if
it happened to someone else you woulda been rolling on the ground with
me, it's just a funny story." He looked into Akane's eyes hoping he
had gotten it right.

Akane looked back into his eyes and finally nodded, "Okay, it
would be a little funny, but I feel really bad. After that no one
would even look at my food. Except Kuno, and I wouldn't want him to
have anything I made. Hey, since I'm going in this tournament you want
to give some tips on how to beat Sakura?"

"Sure, let us change and I'll meet you outside."

******

Akane had to break her warm up to dodge and roll to the side as
Ranma's leap kick from the roof put a large divot in the grass.

"Good reflexes, that'll help against Shampoo. Let us warm up some
and I'll run you through the rules. Hey, who's this guy, Kuno,
anyway?"

Ranma was beginning to suspect that the odd look of disgust that
he had seen on her face a few times now was specifically for this Kuno
guy. Starting with a groan of disgust Akane began to describe Tatewaki
Kuno.

"Tatewaki Kuno is the most despicable, dishonourable, lecherous,
cheating, insane, insensitive, delusional, idiotic jerk you will ever
hear of."

Thoughs of a certain school grand master came to Ranma's mind "I
don't know, I know some pretty perverted idiots. Hey isn't he the
Japan Kendo champion?"

"Yes, he is, the cheat. Over a year ago the idiot decided he was
in love with me. He kept challenging me for a date. After I started
refusing he would issue the challenge and attack without giving me
time to refuse. Then one day he saw another boy in school asking me
out, so he declared that to date me they must defeat me. After that,
most of the boys would charge out every morning that I went to school
to try to beat me to date me. Kuno would wait until after them so they
could wear me down. He still didn't win but he got close more than
once. Then he got this wishing sword..."

"Wishing sword? Does he still have it?"

"He's still got the sword but he used the three wishes. The first
wish was for a date with me. With the sword's help, he defeated me and
all the school pressured me into accepting to date him. Then on the
date he wished to kiss me. It paralysed me so I couldn't resist him as
he kissed me."

"Wait, he used magic to forced you to kiss him? What an asshole!"

Akane looked at the odd combat posture Ranma had taken, but
brushed the thoughts away to continue the story. "Yeah, then he used
the final wish to make him the greatest Kendo Champion to ever live so
that he may win many more dates from me."

"With a flash he was. Just one fight, he had me down with ease.
He used to be able to send shock waves through the air, now tornados
and cutting winds. He improved so much! After a second date he started
pestering my father for an engagement. Fortunately my sister and I
distracted him into attending tournaments to prove how good he was. I
was going to run away from home when Grandfather stopped me and
started training me in his special attacks. When he returned I was
better than ever before and I put him down hard. He's still after me,
but I'm back to beating him."

"This Grandfather of yours sounds pretty cool, must be a great
martial artist, does he do the Anything Goes?"

"Oh yes, but he's not really my Grandfather. He just likes to be
called that, he's certainly got his faults but he's helped me too many
times, I owe him so much. And after he stopped groping my sisters, my
friends, or me, he is actually fun to be with."

Ranma's face paled, "Groping!?!, No, you don't mean the old
letch!?!"

"Master Happosai?"

Ranma's face changed again, to red with anger. "I have to drive
him off from hanging around here every few months. Dirty old pervert
has been almost as bigger pain in my life in one year as my father has
over my whole life, and that's a lot."

"He's not that bad, you should try to get along with him, I
wouldn't be half the martial artist I am without Grandfathers help."

"He is that bad, Akane, because of his enemies my Mom's been
kidnapped twice, I've been beaten up & fondled, and my friends have
been hurt. He himself has caused me no end of pains. He's tried to use
magic to make me love or obey him five separate times. Never-ending
attempts to steal my girl underwear, constant attempts at getting
photographs of me. No, helping you is the only thing I've ever heard
of him helping anyone but himself. The only help he's given to my
training has been to try and get me to give up the art. Hell, he's
trained my enemies in techniques to beat me. I don't want anything to
do with the little creep."

Ranma got up and began a warm up kata, leaving Akane sitting,
lost in thought. She knew Happi caused problems for people but he'd
been mostly harmless, now she'd heard from someone she'd come to trust
he'd really hurt people.

"I'm sorry Ranma, I don't know what to say. I'd hate to think how
bad my life would be without his help."

Ranma really didn't want to argue with Akane, especially over the
old fart. "Look Akane, just forget about it for now. Lets just get
some training down, okay?"

*******

Ranma faced Akane after some light sparring, a light sheen of
sweat on her face. "The Shishimi tournament is one on one, best of
three fights, in a ring. I'll take ya to the place I used for practice
last year, later on. You lose if you're knocked out, thrown from the
ring or pinned for more than a three count. You can submit, but if you
get knocked out and don't awaken within five minutes you loose the
next fight and that round."

"Who made these rules?"

"Sakura most likely, that knock out rule is for sure. It goes
with another rule, no replacement equipment nor can any one come and
help until the round is settled unless bleeding. Last year she used a
sleep drug to knock me out in cursed form, Mom was able to wake me up
just in time with the smell of food."

"It sounds like Sakura has this pretty well rigged."

"Well that's Sakura's main style for ya, an' I've only told you
the tip of her pile of tricks. I'll show you her main moves so you can
put her down before she can try her dirtier tricks."

After they exchanged smirks Ranma continued "Anyway the ring
itself is made with traps to trip and throw off Sakura's opponents..."

******

Akane admired the view while trying to regain her breath, wiping
the sweat from her face with her hand before wiping it on the black
pants. Since they were training outside of the house, they had agreed
Akane should wear some of his older (and smaller) clothes rather than
her gi or sweat clothes. The stares she'd gotten from men as they'd
run here in the blue sleeveless Chinese shirt and black slacks had
been more than a little flattering, she had even caught Ranma watching
once.

After lunch Ranma had led her at an even paced run out into some
woods over ten miles away. High up on a hill was an old water storage
tank a good seventy foot tall and at least a hundred and fifty foot
across. After leaping the fence and climbing via some old rusting
piping, they were at the top and able to look back over Bokuto and the
larger Juban area. It was actually very pretty. Up here they could see
larger buildings like the school, police station, hospital and
recreation hall and could make a decent guess where Ranma's house was,
all against the backdrop of the distant skyscrapers.

The roof of the tank was dented and pitted and needed a new coat
of paint. The low concave slopes of the top gave a dome feel but it
had warped over time so bulges and different gradients where common.
Aside from the locked stair/ladder, eight thick rounded steel
pillions, evenly spaced around the rim were the only construct to rise
above the height of the tank, and even then only about four feet over
the lip. Their footsteps boomed lightly inside the tank beneath them.

Akane was stirred from the view by Ranma flipping and rolling
away from her across roof. It wasn't until after he was more than half
way across she realised he was blind folded. "RANMA!"

Ranma smirked at the panic in her voice, but continued the last
of his rolls and flipped to his feet facing her. Taking off the
blindfold, he did a quick check. He was only five feet from the rim.
He had meant for ten feet but he had no qualms about the minor error.

"Idiot! What the hell do you think your doing?"

"This was how I learnt to trust my sense of touch. You have to
feel the floor as you go or ya twist wrong and hurt yourself. It ain't
that hard. Come on, your turn, no more than a one count on any one
foot or hand."

Akane was still amazed at what Ranma considered training at
times. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with them when it came
to actual practice but in theory they were ludicrous. The walking on
fences was on the whole a good practice. She had, when her attire
allowed, joined him on the fence. Although she couldn't run while
doing it she was getting better. He would also stop by the children's
play area at the park on the way home from school to practice leaps
and kicks through jungle-gyms and rushed laps crawling through a
wooden castle set.

Akane set out with drops and rolls, feeling self conscious of the
lack of aerial movement compared with Ranma. After only a few meters
she landed wrong and twisted her wrist enough to stop her movement.

Ranma's voice came across slightly disappointed, "Come on, you
can do better than that. Feel the ground as you touch and adjust. Stay
light until your body tells you it's safe."

Akane began again doing slightly better but a lot slower.

"Faster, speed it up."

Akane started feeding on the anger his voice was beginning to
give her. She sped up trying to feel her way clear. Eventually she
made it over to him.

"Good, Now this time jogging around the outside."

Akane looked up at him wiping away some of the sweat from her
face. "I had to do it the hard way before the jogging?"

Ranma's face split in an evil smirk as he tossed a strip of cloth
to her. "Hard hasn't even started."

"Oh no, uh uh, no way."

"Ohh yes."

"Ranma, it's insane, I'm not going to run around the edge blind
folded. I could fall."

"I'll never let you fall."

Akane locked eyes with him as a blush started creeping over her.
The way he said it, not with his usual arrogance but more of a promise
to never let her be hurt. Visions of his weak attacks during sparring,
how he caught her when she failed while fence walking, and other minor
incidents flashed through her mind.

His eyes showed absolute innocence, that he didn't even realise
what he had said. She couldn't face those eyes any more, so she
snatched the blindfold from his hand and began tying it.

Ranma began backing a few steps away while she finished tying.
'Wonder what's with her?' "Okay, now just follow my voice." With that
he began walking backwards around the tank reciting a prayer song he'd
heard from some old Shinto monks when he and his father had been
training. It maintained a complex and long patterned beat that was
very hard to grasp. He picked it so as not to give Akane a rhythm but
force her to pick the pace herself.

Akane began walking after him taking tentative steps trying to
use only a small area like her toes on the uneven metal. As the
minutes passed Ranma would call for more speed, then more to force her
to use the whole foot. But no matter the criticising, she still
wouldn't run.

Visions continued vying in Akane's mind with her focus. The
vision involved her tripping and rolling off. Still she tried,
continuing to follow Ranma's voice meters ahead, enforcing a desire to
roll to the right, and the centre of the tank, if she fell.

After a second lap she felt herself trip to the left. Even before
she touched the metal, let alone rolled off the edge, she felt his
strong hands on her shoulder and she was flipped back to her feet.
Ripping the blindfold off she saw him standing casually a few meters
away. She could feel the reverberations of his feet in the metal dome,
saying he had just got back there.

"What? Come on, a few more laps."

She stood there panting, trying to think of something to yell at
him for but nothing seemed that justified. Putting her blindfold back
on, she began following his voice. The knowledge that he really
wouldn't let her fall brought strength to her focus and soon she was
rushing over the uneven metal.

Ranma ran her around the dome a few more times, before beginning
zig-zagging over the dome. Soon he could see the tiredness in her face
and decided to skip to the end. He darted forward snatching the
blindfold from her head as he flipped over her.

Akane was suddenly worried when he went quiet, then the blindfold
was ripped from her head. Just as her eyes adjusted to the light, she
ducked the punch at her face. Sparring was on.

*******

Jiro Ohata rushed down the street. He hated running anywhere, but
this may be the breakthrough he needed. He politely greeted the two
young women he speed past as he turned a corner. The young man was a
handsome figure in the dark blue slacks and white shirt, his brown
hair perfectly set and his dark eyes flashed. He glanced at his
reflection in some shop windows and idly thought he might even be more
handsome since he lost build when he swore off martial arts.

He gazed at the front of the Bokuto School looking for the
damage. One of the wire fences had been knocked down, he noted as he
approached. He opened the flap on the mobile phone he carried and hit
redial before holding it to his ear.

"Hello, Toko's phone."

"It's me, where are you?"

"He's just making a third loop of the gymnasium. I don't think he
even realises."

"Good, I'm almost there."

Flicking the phone shut and into his pocket. He slowed as he
approached the gymnasium, straightening his clothes. He gathered his
wits, knowing how unstable this person was, but if he wanted Ranma
Saotome to suffer, this man was far too useful.

Turning the last corner he spotted the sullen man walking towards
him. His clothes were dirty and dusty, even the bandanna that held his
dirty hair. His shoes and leggings showed dried mud and a branch with
some dead leaves stuck out from his backpack.

"Ryoga Hibiki?"

Ryoga's eyes shot up as he lifted his head to look at who ever
had interrupted his thinking. He took in the young man standing before
him. "Do I know you?"

"Probably not, My name is Jiro Ohata, and I'm a big fan of
yours."

Ryoga snorted at the idea of having a fan. The only person he
knew who had fans was Ranma.

Ohata saw the anger cross the lost boy's expression and the
clenching of his fist. A smile came to his lips as he played out his
plan. "Any enemy of Ranma Saotome is someone I like."

Ryoga's thoughts were frozen by this. "You hate Ranma as well?"

"I would be more than happy to see that red haired freak ground
into dust."

Ryoga had a sinking feeling. "You do know he's a guy don't you?"

A disgusted look crossed Ohata's face. "Of course, I do. Better
than you would. Regardless, we both want that hermaphrodite beaten and
broken." As the confused look passed over Ryoga's face at the word
'hermaphrodite', Ohata mentally ticked his assessment of the lost
boy's intellect.

Ryoga gave up trying to guess on what 'hermaphrodite' meant and
cracked his knuckles. "Just lead me to him."

Ohata chuckled, and signalled Toko to come over. "Great
enthusiasm but I have a better idea. Defeat him before all of Japan."

*****

Ranma watched from atop the fence as Akane hobbled home. "You did
real good today, Akane. I'm surprised that you had that level of
endurance."

Akane ignored him as she continued to walk back to the house. The
sun was just setting and the streetlights coming out. She was
beginning to regret not taking his offer to carry her.

"If we shoot over straight from school to practice there you
should be ready for the tournament in two weeks."

Akane decided to conserve energy and so just gave him a dirty
look.

"I mean it, you really did well. After the lack of opportunity
training from you over the past week, I was afraid you were actually
more tomboy than martial artist."

Akane simply reacted. Exhaustion forgotten, the mallet was out
and tracking the pigtailed martial artist.

Ranma just dodged and smirked. "What was that? It was feeble."

Ranma began dodging backwards down the street towards home. He
loved seeing this 'light angry' mode she'd get in. It was different
from her other 'serious' angry mode. This was more... just... well
tomboyish anger.

Ranma's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of launching
chains. A sound he found all to familiar. Dashing forward under the
mallet he lifted Akane and jumped.

Akane panicked when Ranma suddenly hugged her, and reacted as per
training. An elbow caught Ranma in the face before she shucked out of
his grip. Finding herself in mid air she rolled and landed on her feet
on the roof of a house beside the road.

Ranma landed beside her but still dazed from the head blow he
landed on his face, before sliding off to fall back to the ground,
landing in a bush.

"I have you now, Saotome."

Akane looked down at the man addressing a post box wrapped in
chains. He was wearing a set of white robes and a pair of glasses sat
uselessly atop his head. His long hair was dark and obviously well
kept. Although his Japanese was flawless, his accent was Chinese.

"You will answer one question before I kill you." Stated the
figure before the post box.

Akane decided she was tired and wanted this over with. "Hey, That
isn't Ranma."

"Eh?" The figure placed his glasses on and looked up at the girl
on the roof, before staring back at the post box. "Oh, thanks. Do you
know where he is?"

"Ah, he just ducked out. Can I ask why you're going to kill him?"

The boy finished recalling the chains into his sleeves while
giving a shrug. "Habit. I was hoping by some small chance he wasn't
entering the up-coming tournament."

"Sorry buddy, but I'm in. That money is needed to pay off all the
debts Pops made." Ranma stumbled out of the bushes in the front yard.

Akane used the opportunity to leap down to a fence, then the
ground.

"Would you change your mind if I said please?"

"No can do. So how does Shampoo figure in this?"

"Cologne's not going to let her lose this tournament, the old
mummy has been showing her a new technique. The 'Twenty Stabbing
Stars'. She keeps going on about what the two of you'll do as victory
celebration."

"She'll try celebrating with me even if only she wins. Hell,
she'll try celebrating if she gets IN the tournament. So what's this
technique do?"

"It is supposedly one of the favoured techniques of Roe Ling Ping
the Crusher. One of the most feared Elders in our history, both for
fighting prowess and ability to keep the males in check. The technique
itself is only available to women. The basis of the technique... I
don't know."

Ranma just shook his head as Akane approached the pair. Mousse
looked at her first before bowing. "I have found him, thank you for
your help."

"Oh hey Mousse, this is Akane Tendo. Akane, Mousse of the
Amazons. Akanes' staying with us for the next couple months."

"Oh Hello, Shampoo mentioned.... somebody.... staying with
Ranma."

Akane picked up on it pretty quickly and gave him a grin. "I'm
sure she didn't use those words."

"Well, Shampoo isn't that good with your language."

******

"You're late... Oh dear, Akane you look exhausted."

Akane looked up wearily as she entered the house. "I am Aunty, I
am."

"Go have a quick bath, while I set out dinner. Go."

Akane headed quickly down the hall, eager for a soak.

Nodoka's eyes quickly caught onto Ranma's "Ranma, why is Akane so
exhausted?"

He shrugged. "Training. She did really well too."

"I'm sure she did." With a sigh, she relaxed her gaze at her son.
"Don't be too hard on her, she's not up to your level. Now come help
set the table."

****

Akane watched Ranma inhale his food. Even though they weren't
fighting, he still ate fast. Couldn't blame him, he was eager for a
bath.

She rolled her shoulders to relieve some of the stiffness from
today's training.

"Done, that was great Mom. I'm going to have a bath."

Nodoka watched her son leave with an amused look, like at some
private joke. Glancing at Akane her face became more serious.

"Akane dear, do you think Ranma could be a good martial arts
instructor?"

Akane thought about her day, as she swallowed some more rice.
Finally she began nodding "If he learns some patience, yes. He knows a
lot and is good at showing someone how to do it right, but he isn't
patient when I take too long to learn something."

Nodoka nodded silently for a few moments. "Thank you, Akane. Are
you enjoying training with him?"

Akane glanced towards the bathroom before a wiry grin cracked her
face. "Yeah, It's been a long time since I've trained like this, not
since Grandfather started training me. Most of my training over the
past couple of years has been fighting perverts." The two began to
giggle lightly but Akane winced slightly at the tightness in her
muscles.

Nodoka watched on thoughtfully. "Akane dear, are you feeling a
bit stiff?"

"Yeah, I don't think my body's quite fit enough for what we did
today."

"Akane, Ranma has been trained in five different types of
massage. Maybe you should have one before bed."

"No! Ah, that is no thank you, Aunty."

Aunty looked at her evenly. "Is there a problem?"

"No problem, I just..."

"Akane dear, I think those perverts who have made you the martial
artist you are today, have also given some bad training."

"But Aunty..."

"Akane, I'm going to ask you a question and I'd like an honest
answer. Was one of the reasons you fled your family to come here
because you feared you were being forced to marry some pervert?"

Gazing into Nodoka's eyes, her denial was held back and she
dropped her head and stared into her food. "I...maybe...probably."

"Akane, I'm not going to force you to have a massage, but I think
you should have one, for more than just your muscles."

Akane thought about it for a while before nodding. "Thank you
Aunty."

*****

Ranma walked into the kitchen towelling off his hair in a black
singlet and black silk pyjama bottoms with red swirls on them. "Hey
Mom, any leftovers? Akane hit the sack?"

Nodoka handed him the already prepared bowl with a gentle smile.
"Hurry up. Akane's waiting for you."

"Huh, what for?" came out between gulps.

Nodoka looked back at him with a curious smile. "I suggested you
give her a massage to ease the stiffness in her muscles before bed."

"Huh, good idea, probably wouldn't sleep well other wise."
Finishing the bowl he tossed it into the sink with the chopsticks and
opened one of the higher cupboards, grabbing a couple of bottles of
creams and oils before heading upstairs.

*****

Ranma stepped up to the upstairs landing and walked straight into
his bedroom. Lying on his bed face down was Akane. A lot of Akane.
Clad in only a sports bra and assumed panties under the towel over her
rump, she was quite a sight to behold. His mind locked. It wasn't the
sight by itself but augmented by something more. A wanting.

Akane had her face turned away from the door not wanting to see
Ranma looking at her, especially with the blush she had had for the
last minute.

Ranma's body reacted as expected without the brain working. The
mouth fell open, the eyes bugged out and the hands clenched. The hand
holding the glass bottle was fine, the one holding the plastic bottle
popped the lid and jetted cream up into his face and mouth. Regaining
his senses, he spun around in front of his desk and put the bottles
down before a towel flung through the door hit him in the face. With a
silent thank you to his mother, he wiped his face and spat as much
cream off his tongue as he could. He heard the door shut with a click.

Akane turned her head to face him at the choking sound he was
making but his back was turned and he was wiping his face with a
towel. "Is something wrong?" She asked not sure what answer she
wanted.

"No" Ranma's voice was high and he coughed quickly before
swallowing. "(Bleh) No, nothing wrong, what could be wrong." Tossing
the towel over one shoulder he squeezed some cream into his hands and
turned around, concentrating on the knowledge that the taste in his
mouth was with him for the duration.

Seeing him turning around, Akane flipped her head back to face
the other way again, her memory filtering through all the times over
the past week Ranma could have been a pervert but hadn't been.

Ranma was desperately trying not to ogle her half naked form.
He'd massaged all three of his other fiances at least once without
this level of trouble, and had certainly seen his share of naked
women. But none of them were Akane. Why was this different?

Giving up trying to figure it out, Ranma set his focus and
stepped over, kneeling beside his low bed.

Akane was virtually holding her breath, not sure what to expect
when he first touched. Regardless it wasn't the ice-cold palm on her
shoulder.

Akane gasped when Ranma's hand touched her shoulder and he
panicked "What?!, Are you hurt there?"

Akane summoned her will. "No, it's fine, your hands are icy..."

"Oh, damn, sorry. I wasn't paying attention."

Before Akane could consider what he was paying attention to, a
pair of almost hot palms came down, kneading into her shoulders.

"Wow you really are tense. Give me a sec, one, two and three." As
Ranma counted aloud, she felt one hand leave her shoulder and flow
down her spine counting ridges before moving out to the side an inch
and pressing. A jolt went through every nerve in her body and she
spasmed. Then he began kneading again. "Much better".

"What did you... ahhh... do."

"Just a pressure point Doc showed me for relaxing people. I can't
use it on most of the people I massage."

Akane felt herself melting under his strong hands. She felt as
they shifted from massage types - gentle to deep to shiatsu and others
she couldn't even identify. He worked the muscle groups of the
shoulders around the sports bra, sometimes reaching under to get at
the lower shoulder blades, before moving out along the arms.

"Why can't you use that point normally?" Came out between sighs
of release.

"When the school found out I was doing the massages, several of
the girls were constantly there on Sundays, then my fiancee's found
out and they were over here nearly every night trying to get one, and
from Shampoo more, which would bring Mousse crashing in tearing the
place up. It wasn't until Mom decided to finally acknowledge Sakura's
claim, from her deal with Pop, that we convinced them it would be best
if I didn't give any of them massages at home and made them think they
had to live without to stop the other two from hanging around here."

"So they were at the clinic every Sunday and Doc started having
problems with them and others breaking appointments when they found
out I wasn't available. So he allocated me to patients with medical
problems and that point jolts the entire body so isn't good for tendon
injuries, broken bones, and other stuff."

The two were silent as he finished on the arms and moved down to
the legs. Ranma found his control slipping again and tried to start a
conversation, but couldn't think of any subjects.

Akane was almost half asleep as her body relaxed when Ranma
finished on her calves and was working on her knees, lifting the lower
leg to rotate the joint with one hand and manipulating the knee itself
with the other. She had just dozed off when he moved up to her thighs,
her eyes snapping open as the thought of how vulnerable she was to
Ranma right now. Between the tiredness and her relaxed state, could
she stop him if he did anything?

"Did I hurt you?"

"What?!" Akane's voice was very loud to both of them.

"You just tensed up, did I hurt you? Is something wrong?"

Akane heard the concern in his voice and calmed down. "No, I...
dozed off and panicked. Sorry."

"Oh."

Akane calmed down running through the opportunities for being a
pervert Ranma already had, as she felt him starting on her thighs
again. Deciding distraction may work better as his strong hands lulled
her in warmth radiating from her thighs and...

"So what's the story with Mousse? One minute he attacks you, the
next you're friends."

Ranma was happy to have a topic handed to him and so eagerly
began. "Mousse came after Shampoo, when she came after me from China.
He is totally obsessed with her even though she treats him so bad. He
firstly showed up trying to defeat me, hoping Shampoo would love him
since he thinks the only reason Shampoo loves me is her stupid laws."

"Is she?"

"I gave up trying to figure that out. I think that since I'm a
guy, she can't see me as an equal so she loves me to a point, if that
makes sense. One time, Shampoo got this stupid brooch that made the
wearer reverse their love. Suddenly she hated me, as much as she loved
me but reversed, she would just ignore me unless we came face to face,
then she'd pound me into the pavement. I was kinda worried for a bit,
then Mom pointed out that this meant her claim must be over and we
began ignoring her. Next day she's all over me again, and she was
trying to put the brooch on me. I was really mucked up by it, then she
brought out a cat she'd caught to try... well..."

Akane remembered what Aunty had said about Ranma's fear of cats.
"The Nekoken?"

His hands immediately stopped "You know about that?"

"Aunty told me. I hope you're not upset."

Ranma was silent for a few moments "Nah, just means ya might not
freak out when it happens next."

Akane could hear the self-disgust in his voice, much like when he
spoke of his curse. She tried to get back into the story to make it go
away, "So she tried to put you in the Nekoken?"

"I'll only go to those I care for while in it, so she was trying
to use the brooch to control me. The cat freaked me out though and I
was off, running down the street as fast as I could. Of course Sakura
decided to come see me and as soon as I saw her I was all over her
like a pervert, I just knocked her down in the street. Cologne showed
up and took back the jewel back before I... hurt her."

Akane slumped her head in defeat that her change of subject had
taken him straight back to a place that disgusted him. "Why did
Shampoo want you in the Nekoken?"

"I talked with Mom about it later and the fact Cologne was
nearby. Because I can't be controlled in the Nekoken, they can't just
take me off to their village. Cologne's been trying to be friends with
Mom ever since she found out about the cat fist, because they need her
to calm me if they want to take me back to China. Shampoo was planning
on showing how she could control me through the brooch to convince the
Cologne to leave Mom behind and drag me off."

Akane felt his hands leave her thighs and was waiting for the
towel to be lifted when his hands were on her lower back. She let out
a sigh, but out of relief or disappointment she couldn't say for
certain.

"Back to Mousse, he tried to defeat me a lot but in the last few
months he finally accepted I didn't want Shampoo and has given up
trying to kill me. He just wants Shampoo. She's pretty mean to him
normally but when she was wearing the reversal brooch she was really
mean. Once we figured out the brooch reversed the feelings of the
wearer, he was so happy."

"You sure have some odd friends, Ranma."

"Welcome to the weird life of Ranma Saotome."

Akane smiled gently feeling his hands over her back. She noticed
his hands working around the sports bra's thick straps. Nodoka's words
came back to her. Steeling her will she asked, "Would it be easier
without the bra?"

Ranma didn't notice the hesitation in her voice as he tried
maintaining his focus. He tried to answer as casually as possible "A
bit...but you can leave it on if you want."

"No Ranma, I trust you."

Ranma turned around as she began to sit up. Trying to mask his
own nervousness, he busied himself putting more cream into his hands
when he spotted some incense sticks he put on the top shelf of the
book case beside his desk. "Hey, I've got some incense sticks that may
help you relax."

He heard Akane's muffled acknowledgment as he reached for the
sticks, trying not to think about her. As he brought the sticks down a
number of small squares fluttered down. His reflexes took over and his
free hand shot out grabbing them from the air.

Mumbling a curse on his father's panda butt, he moved to replace
the condoms back on the top shelf. It was then, that he heard the odd
skipping rhythm of footsteps in the hall.

Shampoo burst in through the door with a low and seductive "Nihao
Airen!", wiggling her lingerie clad figure. She stopped wiggling when
she was faced with a beautiful girl in panties throwing her bra over
the back of a chair and husband in night-clothes holding condoms.

With an inarticulate yell she dropped the ramen take out box and
drew her bonbori to face Akane. "HUSBAND STEALER!!" Her voice
thundered through the room as the two turned to face her.

Ranma was stock still facing the Amazon.

Akane was bewildered by the sudden appearance of the purple
haired aggressor. She turned to ask Ranma what was going on and saw he
had condoms in his hand. She saw red, 'I trusted him!'

"PERVERT!!"

*wack wack wack wack wack wack wack wack wack wack wack wack*

Ranma was trying to regain his senses as both sides of his face
were stinging really bad. His eyes refocused finally on Akane's chest.
Akane stood furious in front of him, her hands opening and clenching
to alleviate her stinging palms. She traced his line of sight.

*Wham*

Shampoo wanted to kill the dark haired girl but she was now
beating Ranma. It was too confusing.

Tying shut a robe, and with her hair hanging down, Nodoka Saotome
rushed into her sons room, taking in the scene. Shampoo in a sheer,
midnight blue teddy with bonbori standing beside a Cat Cafe take away
box, which was leaking onto the floor. Akane had a furious look on her
face was putting her robe back on, while her son was laying into the
shattered doors of his closet. "What is going on here?"

"Husband stealer beat up Airen!" "Ranma is a pervert!"

Nodoka could feel the headache beginning. "Stop! Akane, why is
Ranma a pervert?"

Akane stalked over to the desk and picked up a condom. "He was
only doing the massage to have sex with me. He got me to take off the
bra and then got these out."

Shampoo was about to say something but was cut off by Nodoka's
hand in front of her face. Akane saw the hardened look cross Nodoka's
face. Her voice was calm an even as she held out the other hand to
Akane for the condom. "Tell me exactly what happened."

"He got me to take off the bra and while I did he claimed he was
getting some incense sticks but was really getting condoms. Then
Shampoo charged in."

Nodoka looked at the condom and down at the incense sticks in
Ranma's unconscious grip. "Okay, Akane, please calm down. Shampoo why
are you here?"

"Shampoo here with snack for husband. Good thing, else husband
stealer take what not hers."

"Akane and my son were not going to have sex, Shampoo. Ranma was
giving Akane a massage at my request."

Shampoo was still unhappy with the answer, but had learned long
ago being disrespectful to Ranma's Mother would never help her cause.

"Why didn't you ask me before entering my house, Shampoo?"

Shampoo put on a too too cute look as she tried her prepared
excuse "Shampoo saw your light off, no want to wake."

"Shampoo, go home, I will have words with Cologne tomorrow
regarding your behaviour."

Shampoo paled slightly but stuck to her guns. "No, Shampoo must
protect husband from thief."

"I am not a husband thief!"

"Akane, I said calm down. Shampoo go home, any more late visits
without my permission and I will consider your claim on my son
invalid."

"Great Grandmother no accept."

"Even after Saffron?"

Akane had been watching the argument until this last words spoken
by Nodoka in a hushed tone. Shampoo slumped slightly before nodding
and glaring at Akane. "Husband thief touch husband again, give Kiss of
Death!", that said, she whirled and left the room.

Nodoka watched the Amazon leave, trying to find her centre, her
heart beat rushing in her ears. She finally tuned to the short dark
haired girl standing beside the bed. "Did my son ask you to remove
your bra?"

Akane considered the dark eyes before her. "He said I didn't have
to but it would be easier without."

Nodoka lightly smiled as the last piece fell into place. "Could
you please reach up to the top shelf and grab some of those incense
sticks."

Akane looked a bit perplexed before reaching up on her toes to
reach the high shelf and grab some sticks. Coming down she noted
another condom poking out over the lip of the shelf.

Nodoka reached up and grabbed it, holding it up as evidence.
"When Ranma and his father returned from their training trip there was
an issue of Ranma's manliness with his curse. In an effort to make
Ranma seem more manly, Genma hid some condoms around his room in the
belief that I would find them, therefore seeing Ranma as more manly.
Unfortunately my husband is an idiot, and he was very liberal in
stashing the condoms here. As you can see these are still here over a
year later. I'm sure that if Shampoo had not burst in Ranma would have
simply tossed them in the bin."

Akane sheepishly nodded as she accepted the explanation. She
looked down at the unconscious heap in the closet. "What about him?"

Nodoka smiled. Taking the towel from the bed, she kneeled and
righted the fallen take-out box. Dabbing the wet tatami mat with the
towel she held it up for Akane. "Wave this under his nose."

Akane giggled and did as instructed, wincing slightly at the
redness of Ranma's face and the swelling already starting.

Nodoka opened the box and was surprised the noodles were all
still in the bowl. With quick wipes of a second towel she dried the
base and placed it on the desk before beginning to mop up the juices.

The scent of ramen brought Ranma back to the living. He began to
smile before seeing Akane was near him and panicked away from her. "I
... I can explain."

"Aunty already did. Sorry for hitting you." She stood and stepped
away from him as he picked himself up. Without looking back she spoke
quickly. "I better get to bed, thanks for the massage."

"Ah sure." Ranma's face swung from her retreating form to his
mother and back as she left.

Standing Nodoka lifted the take out box. "Akane just panicked.
She saw her fears of others she knows in you. She needs this time away
from them to become comfortable again." She smiled as she left the
room, "Oh, and I'd expect Shampoo to try to attack Akane during the
week, you may want to try and keep her calm when you see her. Good
night."

"G'night Mom." He idly considered Shampoo and his situation in
general while digging into the bowl of noodles, noting how the taste
failed to clear the taste of the massage cream he'd swallowed.

(To be continued)

Special thanks to MwhaleK, Michael Ahlf and Sakurabana for proof
reading and advising.

Thank you for reading,

Trent O'Donoghue.
odono...@today.com.au

[Trent O'Donoghue]